Thursday, July 31, 2008

Parents question why Ozark police used stun gun on injured son

By the time officers arrived, the teen was off the 30-foot overpass, lying on the shoulder below along U.S. 65, with no good explanation as to how he got there.

“According to the doctors, all injuries are consistent with a fall,” said his aunt, Samantha.

Mace's dad believes it was just that, a fall, not a jump. The question is why.

“They tested his system. He was clean of drugs and alcohol. We don't know why unless just being in shock and the whole thing in itself caused him to forget everything,” said Hutchinson.

His aunt says he is undergoing major surgery for a broken back and broken heel. While he was lying on the ground, she wonders why Ozark police used an electric stun gun on him up to 19 times.

“I'm not an officer, but i don't see the reason for ‘Tasering’ somebody laying there with a broken back. I don't consider that a threat,”

His dad says the use of the stun gun delayed what would have been immediate surgery by two days.

“The ‘Tasering’ increased his white blood cell count and caused him to have a temperature so they could not go into the operation.”

“He refused to comply with the officers and so the officers had to deploy their Tasers in order to subdue him. He is making incoherent statements; he's also making statements such as, ‘Shoot cops, kill cops,’ things like that. So there was cause for concern to the officers,” said Ozark Police Capt. Thomas Rousset.

Police say although there are several unanswered questions; the reason for the use of a stun gun is not one of them.

“It's a big concern for the officers to keep this guy out of traffic, to keep him from getting hurt,” said Rousset.

Ok, where do I start?

1. He was reported on top of a 30 ft overpass and when they get there he is below it lying on the ground. Gee, I wonder how he got there, an elevator perhaps?

2. He is obviously underage.

3. He isn't moving, most likely because (and I am no Adrian Monk or Sherlock Holmes but I'm guessing) he fell!!!

4. They wanted him to move away from traffic so he doesn't hurt himself.

Ok... So why the fuck did you tase him not once, but nineteen times?!?

Oh because he supposedly said "shoot police" and "kill cops"? You no what that sounds like to me? Bullshit. Only in the Ozarks.